202 FALL TREATMENT OF BREEDING EWES. 



the lambs accustomed to the stables before winter, is in itself 

 no inconsiderable advantage. 



FALL FEEDING AND SHELTERING BREEDING EWES. It is 

 a common and very truthful saying among observing flock- 

 masters, that "a sheep well summered is half wintered." 

 Breeding ewes should be brought into good condition by the 

 time the first killing frosts occur. After that, they should not 

 be suffered to fall off*, but be kept rather improving by feeding 

 them, if the condition of the pastures render it necessary, with 

 pumpkins, turnip-tops, and any other perishable green feed on 

 the farm and after these are exhausted, with turnips. If 

 some of the oldest and youngest ewes remain thin, they 

 should be separated from the others and fed rather better 

 grain not being withheld, if it is necessary to bring them 

 into plump condition before winter. Shelter from late, cold 

 storms, though not as important as in the case ol lambs, 

 is very desirable, and there can be no doubt that with persons 

 possessing convenient and commodious sheep stables, it will 

 well pay for the trouble to put up breeding ewes nights 

 whenever the weather is raw and the ground wet and cold. * 

 In default of artificial green feed, hay or corn stalks should be 

 regularly fed to sheep once or twice a day, according to 

 circumstances as the pasturage becomes insufficient for 

 their full support. 



A singular idea prevails among a class of our farmers, in 

 regard to fall feeding sheep, which has been handed down 

 from those days when the two dozen gaunt, "native" sheep 

 which belonged to a farm and which roamed nearly as 

 unrestrained as wild deer through field and forest, did not 

 " come in to the barn " before the groraid was covered with 

 snow. In coppices, on briars, and in swamps where the 

 water kept the snow dissolved and by digging in the 

 fields they even found subsistence until the snow became 

 deep and so packed and crusted by sun and wind as to prevent 

 their reaching the ground. They then retreated to the barn- 

 yard, usually lank enough! But every farmer knows the 

 immense difference whether in the fields in summer, or in the 



* My own flocks have generally been too large and spread over too much surface, 

 to render housing from storms practicable until the sheep are brought into their 

 winter quarters ; and if well kept, they certainly do well enough without it. But I 

 housed a flock of lambs last fall, and I thought the benefit was very obvious. I have 

 repeatedly observed the same thing in other men's flocks particularly in Vermont. 

 In that State, fall housing is almost as common, and is regarded as almost as indispen- 

 sable, &a winter housing. This is probably somewhat a question of climate. 



